I honestly loved it ! - Overnight Baker Panera Bread Employee Review

4.0
9 Dec 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great pay for the work You work at Panera but technically you bake for a company called Original Bread (maybe have changed, idk) Night shift mean dealing with minimal amounts of people Self start, manage yourself Great for people who have worked in food/retail/hospitality and want a more secure and challenging position

Cons

No set time for breaks, but as you get adjusted to the work you'll figure out how to set aside time Night shift can be exhausting When the schedule is all wacky from call ins, sometimes you won't have an assistant baker (DOUBLE THE WORK!!!!!) Sometimes you'll work split shifts in different locations, assistant baker at one and head baker at the other Expect to be called in, expect to work more hours than 36-40

Explore other reviews about Panera Bread

5.0
7 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Easy to get hired as a high school student Flexible hours if you communicate well

Cons

You’re expected to be super “yay Panera!”

3.0
18 Apr 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

GM at this location is very on top of things, because it's the busiest Panera in Queens. Consistent hours. Shifts go by very quickly, especially in the morning.

Cons

Location is extremely busy so it gets very stressful, especially in the morning when someone is out / there is no second cashier scheduled so the single cashier in the morning has to clean the coffee counter, refill coffees, make drinks, stick bagels in the oven & serve those bagels, check and bag up RPU/delivery orders, get bakery items for barista screen, and ring up customers. It can get really intense when many people come in, which is most of the time. You will be running back and forth like crazy. Customers can be impatient, rude, demeaning, and nasty when the line gets too long. Not recommended for people who are sensitive, with high anxiety. As for Panera the company, this chain keeps making bizarre and difficult changes to the menu, all of which make employees' lives harder and harder. With every change comes strange, dismaying, and borderline impossible expectations for frontline staff that cascade down through management who cannot do much to alter the hard policies. You can tell the company is struggling greatly to keep itself relevant with the younger crowd (a solid 80% of customers are old people). The CEO and everyone making company decisions at Panera is extremely out-of-touch. EXTREMELY. With every nonsensical menu & operations adjustment, you can tell these people haven't actually worked at a food service job in like 40 years.

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